Improvement in can-openers



' UNITED STATES PATENT fl? FFICE IMPROVEMENT IN CAN-OPENERS.

Specilicati n forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,577, dated September 7, 1875; application led July 30, 1875.

To all whom t may concern: y

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. SKID- MORE, of Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gan-Openers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view. Fig. 3 is an end View.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to a contrivance for opening preserve-cans, boxes, Ste.; and one of its features consists in a knife-supporting frame, which is constructed of parallel rails and cross-pieces, and adapted to be placed on the top of a can, in such a manner that if a knife of suitable construction is placed on the frame, the can may be thereby opened with great facility, and without fear of bulging the top, the knife being placed between and upon the parallel rails of the frame.

Another feature of my invention consists in a knife provided with trunnions, in order to adapt it to be placed on the rails of the supporting-frame; and, the rails being provided with a series of notches, in which the trunnions are placed successively as the cutting of the can progresses, the knife is firmly held against a longitudinal movement.

In the drawing, the letter A designates a knife-supportin g frame constructed according to my invention; B B are its parallel rails, and O O the cross-pieces, which latter connect the rails at or near the respective ends. D is the blade, and E the handle, of my knife.` In the upper edge of the rails B are formed a series of notches, B', whose size and shape are such as to accommodate trunnions F, projecting from opposite sides of the knife, at the point of its blade D. The part G, in dotted outline, represents a box, such as commonly employed for packing sardines and other similar articles. If the frame A is placed on the top of this box G, or on the top of a preservecan, the latter may be readily cut and opened with the knife D E, if the can is penetrated at a point between the rails B B, when the knife may be supported on the frame by its trunnions F, a fulcrum being thus obtained on which the knife may be vibrated.

By vibrating the knife, and at the same time moving it gradually forward, the length of the box or can may be cut with facility, and in a very short time, while the danger of bulging the top, as when it is cut in the ordinary way, is obviated. As the knife is moved forward, it is received successively in the several notches B', and thus the knife is prevented from slipping on the frame.

To guard against shifting of the supporting-frame A under the strain of the knife, I provide the frame with lips a, Figs. l and 3, at one or both its ends, whereby, when the frame is placed on the top of a box or can, and the lips are made to catch over the edge thereof, the frame is firmly held in place.

In the present example the knife-supporting frame A has a rectilineal form. It may, however, have any other shape, and among others it may be circular, to adapt it for that kind of cans.

On the outer side' of the rails B B, respectively, are fastenedY supplemental rails b, the same being made to extend mainly across the notches B' in such a manner that when the trunnions F ofthe knife are placed in the notches the latter is prevented from moving sidewise, and its manipulation is materially facilitated.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, with the parallel rails B B, the series of notches B', adapted to receive in them the trunnions of a knife, substantially as described.

2. The knife D E, constructed with trunnions F, whereby it may be supported, in combination'with the knife-supporting frame A, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

WM. D. SKIDMGRE. lL. s.]

Witnesses:

` E.'F.KAsTENHUBER, UHAs. WAHLERs. 

